EP0601461A1 - Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Wartung einer Kammer zur Aufdampfung des Siliziums mittels einer mit Inertgas gefüllten Wartungskammer - Google Patents

Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Wartung einer Kammer zur Aufdampfung des Siliziums mittels einer mit Inertgas gefüllten Wartungskammer Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0601461A1
EP0601461A1 EP93119366A EP93119366A EP0601461A1 EP 0601461 A1 EP0601461 A1 EP 0601461A1 EP 93119366 A EP93119366 A EP 93119366A EP 93119366 A EP93119366 A EP 93119366A EP 0601461 A1 EP0601461 A1 EP 0601461A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
enclosure
chamber
vacuum deposition
gases
oxygen
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP93119366A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP0601461B1 (de
Inventor
David K. Carlson
Norma B. Riley
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Applied Materials Inc
Original Assignee
Applied Materials Inc
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Filing date
Publication date
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Publication of EP0601461A1 publication Critical patent/EP0601461A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0601461B1 publication Critical patent/EP0601461B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L21/00—Processes or apparatus adapted for the manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or solid state devices or of parts thereof
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L21/00—Processes or apparatus adapted for the manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or solid state devices or of parts thereof
    • H01L21/67—Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components ; Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere
    • H01L21/67005—Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere
    • H01L21/67011—Apparatus for manufacture or treatment
    • H01L21/67017—Apparatus for fluid treatment
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C23—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
    • C23C—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL
    • C23C16/00—Chemical coating by decomposition of gaseous compounds, without leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, i.e. chemical vapour deposition [CVD] processes
    • C23C16/44—Chemical coating by decomposition of gaseous compounds, without leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, i.e. chemical vapour deposition [CVD] processes characterised by the method of coating
    • C23C16/4401—Means for minimising impurities, e.g. dust, moisture or residual gas, in the reaction chamber
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S118/00—Coating apparatus
    • Y10S118/07—Hoods

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a process and apparatus for servicing apparatus used in the processing of semiconductor wafers. More particularly, this invention relates to a process and apparatus which is useful in the cleaning of a reactor chamber used for the deposition of epitaxial silicon on a silicon wafer.
  • moisture and/or oxygen-containing gases can enter the chamber and react with such chlorosilane polymeric residues to form chlorosiloxane polymers, which can result in the release of significant amounts of corrosive HCl gas and a powdery material which sometimes ignites.
  • Control, or preferably elimination, of such a reaction of moisture or oxygen with chlorosilane residues accumulated in a vacuum deposition chamber of semiconductor wafer processing apparatus is, therefore, important for safety, reliability, and particle defect reduction.
  • the invention comprises a process and apparatus by which the formation of chlorosiloxane from accumulated chlorosilane residues, and the resultant formation of byproducts which may be corrosive and inflammatory, may be completely suppressed or eliminated.
  • an enclosure is fitted over the deposition chamber and then purged with one or more non-reactive gases, all prior to opening the chamber.
  • the deposition chamber is then opened, while this enclosure is in place, and any required maintenance is then carried out in the deposition chamber while continuing to flow such non-reactive gas into the enclosure.
  • Any components which need to be removed from the opened deposition chamber e.g., a susceptor or showerhead, may be inserted into a sealed vessel, prior to removal of the component from the enclosure, for transportation to a remote facility such as a cleaning facility where any such accumulated chlorosilane residues may then be removed from the component.
  • Figure 1 is a flow sheet, illustrating the process of the invention.
  • Figure 2 is a side view of a prior art vacuum deposition apparatus prior to fitting the enclosure of the invention onto the apparatus, and prior to opening the vacuum deposition chamber.
  • Figure 2A is a fragmentary top view of a portion of the prior art apparatus of Figure 2, showing the top plate and underlying quarts window of the vacuum deposition chamber bolted in place prior to opening the chamber.
  • Figure 3 is a side view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Figure 2, but with the enclosure of the invention fitted on the top surface of the apparatus over the vacuum deposition chamber in preparation for opening the chamber.
  • Figure 4 is an isometric view of the enclosure of the invention used to provide an atmosphere of non-reactive gas over the top portion of the apparatus, showing the means for providing ingress and egress to the interior of the enclosure by a worker without admission of moisture or oxygen-containing gases into the enclosure.
  • Figure 5 is an isometric view of the framework of the enclosure, including a portion of the gas distribution manifold used to provide a flow of non-reactive gas into the enclosure.
  • Figure 6 is a top view of the gas distribution manifold for flowing the non-reactive gas into the enclosure.
  • Figure 7 is a vertical side view of the enclosure mounted on the apparatus over the top of the vacuum deposition chamber with the cover of the enclosure partially removed to show the flow of non-reactive gas flowing downward from the manifold into the enclosure from the top of the enclosure to provide a blanket of non-reactive gas flowing downwardly adjacent the opening into the enclosure to prevent ingress of outside gases into the enclosure.
  • the invention provides a process and apparatus for providing access to the interior of a vacuum deposition chamber without exposing residues within the chamber to moisture and/or oxygen-containing gases by first placing, over the upper portion of an apparatus containing a vacuum deposition chamber, an enclosure capable of being filled with one or more gases. One or more non-reactive gases are then flowed into the enclosure to purge moisture and/or oxygen-containing gases from the enclosure.
  • the vacuum deposition chamber cover may then be removed and the chamber opened, while continuing the flow of non-reactive gas/gases into the enclosure.
  • the vacuum deposition chamber cover is again secured over the chamber to seal the chamber. The flow of non-reactive gases into the enclosure may then be stopped and the enclosure removed from the apparatus.
  • a vacuum deposition apparatus is generally illustrated at 2 which, in the illustrated embodiment, includes a vacuum deposition reactor apparatus 10, an interlock or loadlock 20 through which wafers may be moved in and out of deposition reactor 10 without breaking the vacuum in reactor 10, and heat lamp modules 30 and 34.
  • the vacuum deposition chamber 11 itself within vacuum deposition reactor apparatus 10 is provided with quartz windows at the top and bottom of vacuum chamber 11. A portion of one of these quartz windows is shown at 12 in Figure 2A.
  • Upper quartz window 12, and the corresponding quartz window at the bottom of vacuum chamber 11 permit chamber 11 and the contents therein to be radiantly heated via heat lamp modules 30 and 34, which are normally positioned immediately adjacent the windows, as shown by the position of heat lamp module 30 in Figure 2.
  • Upper heat lamp module 34 is hinged at 36 to permit the module to be swung out of the way to permit removal of upper quartz window 12 for ingress into vacuum chamber 11.
  • quartz window 12 is secured to vacuum deposition reactor apparatus 10 via a ring 14 which is bolted to apparatus 10 via bolts 16.
  • enclosure 40 is first mounted onto the top surface of apparatus 10, as shown in Figure 3.
  • enclosure 40 comprises a hood-like structure which may, as shown in the illustrations, be generally rectangular in shape with perimeter dimensions generally just slightly smaller than that of vacuum deposition reactor apparatus 10, but slightly larger than the diameter of ring 14, to permit enclosure 40 to rest on the upper surface of apparatus 10 surrounding ring 14, with sufficient room to permit access to and removal of ring 14 with enclosure 40 in place.
  • Enclosure 40 is most preferably formed of transparent sheet material 42, such as a transparent plastic to permit one working within enclosure 40 with his/her hands to visually monitor the work from outside enclosure 40.
  • enclosure 40 is formed from a transparent flexible plastic material, e.g., a polyethylene or vinyl material
  • a frame 50 formed of metal or wood, but preferably from a rigid plastic material, is used to provide a rigid support for transparent plastic material 42, as shown in Figure 5.
  • rigid frame 50 may be either partially or totally eliminated.
  • transparent sheet material 42 is formed of a flexible plastic material which will permit insertion of one's hands into the enclosure to permit one to access the top of the vacuum deposition apparatus in order to open and service chamber 11.
  • Such flexible plastic material which preferably is also transparent, is usually provided on either one side 43 of enclosure 40, or on side 43 as well as the opposite side of enclosure 40 as well. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, preferably flexible plastic material 42 is cut at 45 into strips 44, providing a structure similar to that found at entrances to clean rooms in semiconductor wafer processing facilities.
  • the flexible plastic material could be provided with a single slit on side 43 of enclosure 40, with the two halves of the slit provided with velcro or other fastening means to permit the opening formed by the slit to be wholly or partially closed.
  • the cuts 45 in flexible plastic material 42 may extend only about half way up side 43, resulting in short strips 44.
  • cuts 45' in flexible plastic material 42 may extend further up side 43 of enclosure 40 resulting in longer individual strips 44'. While the provision of longer length cuts 45' and strips 44', as illustrated in Figure 7, will facilitate access to the interior of enclosure 40, and to the top of deposition apparatus 10, shorter length strips 44 and cuts 45 will reduce the possibility of undesired gases or solid materials from entering enclosure 40. The use of such short strips 44 and cuts 45, as shown in Figure 3 and 4, would also permit the use of rigid transparent material on the upper portion of side 43 of enclosure 40, if desired.
  • FIG. 5 the bottom of frame 50 in Figure 5 is provided with what appears to be small appendages or members 52, and similar raised portions or members 54 are found on the top surface of apparatus 10.
  • Such members 52 and 54 comprise fastening means capable of interlocking with one another, such as, for example, adhesive or velcro strips, which prevent or inhibit lateral movement of enclosure 40 with respect to vacuum deposition apparatus 10, once enclosure 40 has been placed on the top surface of apparatus 10 in preparation for opening vacuum deposition chamber 11.
  • one or more non-reactive gases such as, for example, neon, argon, helium, or nitrogen, is flowed into enclosure 40 via conduit 60.
  • a sufficient flow of such gas or gases into enclosure 40 is maintained to provide a slight positive pressure inside enclosure 40 to thereby prevent the entrance of undesirable gases and or solid particles into enclosure 40.
  • a flow of from about 20 standard liters per minute (slm) to about 40 slm of said non-reactive gas, per cubic foot of volume of said enclosure will comprise a sufficient flow to prevent entry of either moisture and/or oxygen-containing gases into said enclosure and into the open deposition chamber.
  • the flow of such non-reactive gas or gases into enclosure 40 is preferably directed downward from the top of enclosure 40 from positions at the top of enclosure 40 adjacent the walls having openings therein, e.g., sidewall 43, so that a downwardly directed gas flow or gas curtain will be provided just inside the openings, e.g., just inside strips 44 or 44' and slits 45 or 45', through the flexible plastic.
  • a gas manifold 62 is connected to gas inlet conduit 60, as shown in Figure 5.
  • Manifold 62 in the illustrated embodiment, comprises a first cross conduit 64 which interconnects gas inlet conduit 60 with gas outlet conduits 66 and 68.
  • Outlet conduits 66 and 68 are positioned at the top of enclosure 40 along the sides of enclosure 40, such as sidewall 43, which have openings therein. In this manner, non-reactive gases entering manifold 62 via conduit 60 flow into enclosure 40 through generally downwardly facing openings 70 in conduits 66 and 68, as best seen in Figure 7, to provide a downward flowing gas curtain just inside transparent flexible plastic strips 44'.
  • enclosure 40 is placed on the top surface of vacuum deposition apparatus 10 (after moving upper heat lamp module 34, if present, out of the way).
  • the flow of non-reactive gas or gases into enclosure 40 is then commenced to purge moisture and/or oxygen-containing gases from enclosure 40.
  • Cover ring 14 and upper quartz window 12 may then be removed, by reaching into enclosure 40 via strips 44 or 44' formed by slits 45 or 45' in flexible plastic material 42, to thereby open vacuum deposition chamber 11, while continuing the flow of one or more non-reactive gases into enclosure 40.
  • components are to be removed from chamber 11, such components may be placed in a special sealable container, which might comprise, in a simplified approach, a sealable plastic bag, to be removed from chamber 11, and then from enclosure 40, for transporting to a remote location, e.g., a vented enclosure, where the components may be cleaned or in other ways serviced.
  • a sealable container which might comprise, in a simplified approach, a sealable plastic bag, to be removed from chamber 11, and then from enclosure 40, for transporting to a remote location, e.g., a vented enclosure, where the components may be cleaned or in other ways serviced.
  • quartz window 12 and cover ring 14 are resecured to vacuum deposition apparatus 10 to reseal chamber 11.
  • the flow of non-reactive gas/gases into enclosure 40 may then be stopped and enclosure 40 may be removed from apparatus 10.
  • chamber 11 may be serviced and components added, replaced, and/or removed from chamber 11 without exposing chlorosilane residues within chamber 11 to moisture and/or oxygen-containing gases capable of reacting with such chlorosilane residues to form corrosive HCl vapors and/or incendiary products within or adjacent to the vacuum deposition apparatus.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
  • Condensed Matter Physics & Semiconductors (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical Vapour Deposition (AREA)
  • Physical Vapour Deposition (AREA)
EP93119366A 1992-12-11 1993-12-01 Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Wartung einer Kammer zur Aufdampfung des Siliziums mittels einer mit Inertgas gefüllten Wartungskammer Expired - Lifetime EP0601461B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US989248 1992-12-11
US07/989,248 US5316794A (en) 1992-12-11 1992-12-11 Method for servicing vacuum chamber using non-reactive gas-filled maintenance enclosure

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0601461A1 true EP0601461A1 (de) 1994-06-15
EP0601461B1 EP0601461B1 (de) 1997-06-25

Family

ID=25534908

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP93119366A Expired - Lifetime EP0601461B1 (de) 1992-12-11 1993-12-01 Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Wartung einer Kammer zur Aufdampfung des Siliziums mittels einer mit Inertgas gefüllten Wartungskammer

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (2) US5316794A (de)
EP (1) EP0601461B1 (de)
JP (1) JPH06260437A (de)
KR (1) KR100312241B1 (de)
DE (1) DE69311790T2 (de)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP4056740A1 (de) * 2021-03-10 2022-09-14 Siltronic AG Verfahren zum herstellen von halbleiterscheiben mit epitaktischer schicht in einer kammer eines abscheidereaktors

Families Citing this family (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5908504A (en) * 1995-09-20 1999-06-01 Memc Electronic Materials, Inc. Method for tuning barrel reactor purge system
US5997588A (en) * 1995-10-13 1999-12-07 Advanced Semiconductor Materials America, Inc. Semiconductor processing system with gas curtain
US5746834A (en) * 1996-01-04 1998-05-05 Memc Electronics Materials, Inc. Method and apparatus for purging barrel reactors
DE19704533C2 (de) * 1997-02-06 2000-10-26 Siemens Ag Verfahren zur Schichterzeugung auf einer Oberfläche
JP3270730B2 (ja) 1997-03-21 2002-04-02 株式会社日立国際電気 基板処理装置及び基板処理方法
US6105435A (en) * 1997-10-24 2000-08-22 Cypress Semiconductor Corp. Circuit and apparatus for verifying a chamber seal, and method of depositing a material onto a substrate using the same
US6089969A (en) * 1998-04-02 2000-07-18 Vanguard International Semiconductor Corporation Powder-proof apparatus for a PECVD reactor chamber
US6161311A (en) * 1998-07-10 2000-12-19 Asm America, Inc. System and method for reducing particles in epitaxial reactors
US6568896B2 (en) 2001-03-21 2003-05-27 Applied Materials, Inc. Transfer chamber with side wall port

Citations (2)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS62104036A (ja) * 1985-10-31 1987-05-14 Nippon Tairan Kk 半導体処理装置
US5065698A (en) * 1988-04-11 1991-11-19 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Film forming apparatus capable of preventing adhesion of film deposits

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US4412812A (en) * 1981-12-28 1983-11-01 Mostek Corporation Vertical semiconductor furnace
JPS58197262A (ja) * 1982-05-13 1983-11-16 Canon Inc 量産型真空成膜装置及び真空成膜法
US4640223A (en) * 1984-07-24 1987-02-03 Dozier Alfred R Chemical vapor deposition reactor
JPS63262470A (ja) * 1987-04-21 1988-10-28 Hitachi Electronics Eng Co Ltd 気相反応装置
US5020475A (en) * 1987-10-15 1991-06-04 Epsilon Technology, Inc. Substrate handling and transporting apparatus
FR2621887B1 (fr) * 1987-10-20 1990-03-30 Sgn Soc Gen Tech Nouvelle Confinement dynamique et accostage sans contact
FR2659782B1 (fr) * 1990-03-14 1992-06-12 Sgn Soc Gen Tech Nouvelle Procede et dispositif de separation dynamique de deux zones.
JPH04297025A (ja) * 1991-01-10 1992-10-21 Nec Corp 半導体製造装置

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS62104036A (ja) * 1985-10-31 1987-05-14 Nippon Tairan Kk 半導体処理装置
US5065698A (en) * 1988-04-11 1991-11-19 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Film forming apparatus capable of preventing adhesion of film deposits

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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Title
DATABASE WPI Week 8725, Derwent World Patents Index; AN 87-173260, "Semiconductor treatment apparatus..." *

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP4056740A1 (de) * 2021-03-10 2022-09-14 Siltronic AG Verfahren zum herstellen von halbleiterscheiben mit epitaktischer schicht in einer kammer eines abscheidereaktors
WO2022189166A1 (de) * 2021-03-10 2022-09-15 Siltronic Ag Verfahren zum herstellen von halbleiterscheiben mit epitaktischer schicht in einer kammer eines abscheidereaktors

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69311790T2 (de) 1997-12-18
KR940016442A (ko) 1994-07-23
US5411593A (en) 1995-05-02
US5316794A (en) 1994-05-31
DE69311790D1 (de) 1997-07-31
KR100312241B1 (ko) 2004-05-20
JPH06260437A (ja) 1994-09-16
EP0601461B1 (de) 1997-06-25

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